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Europe|Pope Punishes Members of Catholic Group in Peru After Vatican Investigation
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/26/world/europe/pope-peru-sodalitium.html
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The Vatican expelled 10 members from Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a group founded in Peru, after investigators reported cases of physical abuse and cultlike control.
By Mitra Taj and Elisabetta Povoledo
Mitra Taj reported from Lima, Peru and Elisabetta Povoledo from Rome.
Sept. 26, 2024, 6:23 p.m. ET
Pope Francis this week expelled 10 members from a Catholic movement in Peru following a Vatican investigation that reported physical abuse, including “sadism and violence,” cultlike attempts to break the will of subordinates, mishandling of church property and covering-up crimes.
Last month, the Vatican formally expelled Luis Fernando Figari, the founder of the group, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, or Sodalitium of Christian Life. Mr. Figari, a layman, stepped down as the leader of Sodalitium in 2010, and was later barred by the Vatican from the group’s community life.
An investigation commissioned by Sodalitium in 2016 concluded that Mr. Figari “used his leadership status to have authoritarian direction and control of most Sodalits,” as the members are known, and enabled him to “abuse some young members and aspirants” of the group.
The abuse, the investigation found, was psychological, verbal, physical and sexual. Mr. Figari appeared “to enjoy observing the younger aspirants and brothers experience pain, discomfort and fear,” the investigation report said. Mr. Figari denied the allegations against him.
To date, none of Sodalitium’s current or former leaders have been charged with any crimes. The allegations of sexual abuse were never investigated by Peruvian prosecutors because of a statute of limitations. Prosecutors did open an investigation into Sodalitium as “a criminal organization” because of allegations of kidnapping and other crimes; that inquiry was shelved this month after nearly eight years.
Founded in 1971, the group thrived in Peru, recruiting members from wealthy families and spreading throughout Latin America.
